In 2021, businesses will need to get leaner and fitter to overcome the challenges and grasp the opportunities on the horizon.
What are the challenges that businesses have faced during COVID-19?
Businesses faced a perfect storm as the first wave of support for the economy was due to end last autumn. Then in mid-September the Chancellor gave us a partial, and temporary, reprieve. SEISS has been extended to April next year. The prohibition on landlord forfeiture has been extended to 31 March 2021, as has the prohibition on covid-related winding up petitions and business support loan scheme deadlines. Repayment of CBILS loans has been extended up to 10 years. Deferred VAT is now repayable over a longer period.
At the same time an entirely new restructuring regime has been introduced offering opportunities that are still to be explored. Less helpfully the change to HMRC preference that commenced on 1 December 2020 will affect the banks’ capacity to lend. The outlook remains uncertain. How will the economy recover from a third lockdown and the gradual loosening of restrictions to come? Will the emerging frictions of Brexit cause significant additional disruption? Or will the economy continue a path of gradual and uneven healing?
The Chancellor’s reprieve has given a window of opportunity for businesses to ensure they are prepared for the wider reopening of our economy.
How will our series help ensure your balance sheet is fit for 2021?
Over the next five weeks Corporate, Restructuring and Banking experts at Gateley Legal will suggest practical ideas and solutions to help clients prepare for this uncertain future.
The series will follow a journey through the balance sheet, focussing on each aspect with ideas to get ‘balance sheet fit’ for 2021. We start with: How to ensure the assets on your balance sheet are working for you. How do you go about identifying and realising value for unwanted or underutilised assets? We then move to Current assets: separating the ‘can’t pay’ from the ‘won’t pay’ customer.
We hope that you find something new, interesting and helpful.
10 Gateley insights for a resilient balance sheet
Follow our ten-part series looking at solutions and opportunities for 2021 viewed through the balance sheet.
Introduction: How to prepare a resilient balance sheet for 2021
Article one: How to ensure the assets on your balance sheet are working for you
Article two: Current assets: separating the ‘can’t pay’ from the ‘won’t pay’ customer
Article three: Short term creditors: how to access funding
Article four: Long term creditors: converting liabilities to equity
Article five: Long term creditors: the benefits of informal creditor arrangements
Article six: Net Assets: what the new restructuring regime means for your business
Article seven: Net Assets: how 'pre-pack administrations' can save your business
Article eight: Net Assets: Advantages and pitfalls of buying insolvent businesses
Article nine: How to unlock capital from inefficient equity structures
Article ten: Shareholder funds: when can a company declare a dividend?
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